In July we celebrate cherry season, a summertime staple grown right here in Colorado. Enjoy this sweet dessert with out-of-town guests and show them what our great state has to offer.
Cherries make up part of the bulk of fruit harvested on the Western Slope of Colorado. Warm days and cool nights are nature’s recipe for perfect cherries. Colorado’s summer sun heats its mesa and rock formations, radiating warmth onto trees during the evening, extending the growing hours. By morning, temperatures are at their seasonal low, bringing sweetness to the fruit. As a Colorado resident you can find these delicious cherries at your local farmers' markets, grocery retailers, farm stands, and other places where Colorado produce is sold.
Each month, the Colorado Department of Agriculture features a different ag commodity to highlight the variety and quality of products grown and raised in our state. For July, Chef Jason Morse of 5280 Culinary brings us a sweet summertime delight to cook on the grill.
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Grilled Cherry Crisp with Sweet Cream
Chef Jason K. Morse, C.E.C., 5280 Culinary, LLC and Ace Hardware Grill Expert
Cherry Filling Ingredients:
4 cups cherries, pitted, fresh
1 tbsp. lemon juice, fresh
½ cup sugar, cane, granulated
½ cup sugar, brown, dark
2 tbsp. flour, all purpose
1-2 tbsp. corn starch,
1 tbsp. allspice
Crisp Topping Ingredients:
1 ¼ cups oats, rolled
½ cup sugar, brown, dark
½ cup flour, all purpose
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt, Kosher
1 tsp. cinnamon, ground
1 stick butter, salted, room temp.
Sweet Cream Ingredients:
1 cup sour cream
½ cup sugar, cane, granulated
½ cup buttermilk, full butterfat
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
Directions:
Prep Directions:
Follow all prep instructions in the prep notes and store all prepped food until needed.
Cooking Directions:
- Load pellet hopper ignite/start grill/oven and set temp to 385˚
- In a medium sized stainless steel bowl, mix all the ingredients for the cherry filling
- Place the cherry filling mixture into the cast iron skillet
- When grill/oven is at temp of 385˚, place the 10.5 Cast Iron Skillet into grill/oven
- Allow the cherry filling mixture to come up to temp and simmer, stir occasionally until mixture has thickened, approx. 15-20 minutes
- For Crisp Topping: In a separate bowl mix together the, crisp topping ingredients and with both hands work the butter into the oats and flour to make a crumble style topping
- Mix the flour mixture well and set aside
- Carefully, with heat proof gloves, remove cherry filling from the grill/oven and place on heat safe surface
- Top with the crisp topping and return to the grill/oven
- Bake at 385˚ for approx. 10-15 minutes or until topping is to your desired doneness
- Remove from the grill/oven and rest for 15 minutes
- For Sweet Cream: In a separate bowl mix together the sweet cream ingredients and with a whisk, mix until fully incorporated. Place in the fridge to keep cold until needed.
- Scoop and serve with Vanilla Sweet Cream (remember to shop local ice cream)
- DEVOUR!
Why not keep the cherry flavor rolling with Colorado Cellars Cherry Wine? This wine has a sweet and tart flavor like that of cherry pie, made from more Colorado Cherries. You may turn into a cherry, but you won’t regret all these local goods. For more wine information, visit Colorado Wine.
Visit ColoradoProud.org for a complete list of recipes.
